Ash tray



June 3, 1941. F W, GRANTHAM 2,244,149

ASHTRAY Filed sep. 6, 1958 nlulmlmmmn.-

Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASH TRAY Frederick W. Grantham, Winnetka, Ill.

Application September 6, 1938, Serial No. 228,467

(Cl. `ISI-4240) 8 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in ash trays adapted for smokers use and has for its primary object the provision of an improved ash tray so constructed and arranged as to discharge automatically a cigarette or the like placed thereon tol prevent the falling of said cigarette therefrom due to continued burning, which is of simple construction and highly eicient in use.

Another object of the invention isy the provision of an improved ash tray of the character indicated so constructed and arranged as to insure operation thereof under various conditions of use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

'I'he invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ash tray ernbodying the invention;

Fig. 2 a vertical transverse section of the same taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 an enlarged partial view illustrating the positions of parts assumed in operation; and

Fig. 4 a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Ihe embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing comprises a receptacle I!) having a raised bottom Il arranged to support burning cigarettes or cigars discharged into said receptacle in such a manner as to prevent damage from heat to an underlying supporting surface such as a highly finished table top. The receptacle I is provided with a removable cover member I2 having an inwardly tapering conical mouth I3 providing a central entry opening I4 through which ashes, cigarettes and cigar stubs may be inserted into the receptacle I0.

Brackets- I5 are secured `as shown at diametrically opposite points of the under side of the mouth I 3 and are provided with depending perforated supporting ears I6 for pivotally supporting two trap doors I1 on pivot pins I8 supported between the ears I6, as shown. Each trap door I1 is provided with a counterweight I9 normally holding the same in closed position but permitting of downward yielding thereof to permit the insertion of ashes and stubs into the receptacle I0, as will be readily understood. Supporting brackets are secured as shown to diametrically opposite points of the top side of the mouth I3 directly above the brackets I5 and are provided as shown with upwardly and inwardly eX- tending perforated supporting ears. Pivotally mounted on each of the brackets 2!) is a cigarette or cigar support 22 having depending perforated ears 23 pivotally supported on a supporting pin 24 extending between the ears on the supporting bracket 20, as shown. A helical coil 25 of thermostatic metal is arranged as shown on each pivot pin 24, one en-d 26 of said coil being given a turn around the corresponding pin 24 and extended through the bottom of the corresponding bracket 20 and the mouth I3 to anchor the same in place, as shown. The other end 2l of the coil 25 is given a turn around the pivot pin 24 and extended outwardly and substantially horizontally so as to make contact with the under side oi the corresponding support 22 when elevated a short distance. A flexible chain 28 is connected with the outer end of each arm 2l and with the under side of the corresponding trap door I'I, there being a loop 25 formed in each chain so as to provide for slight lost motion between the lend of the -armZ'I and thecorresponding trap door. The coil 25 of thermostatic material is formed of two adjacent strips of metal welded together and having dilferent coeiiicients of expansion so that heat applied to the coil 25 causes unwinding of said coil and consequent swinging of the arm or end 2l thereof. Each support 22 carries a stop arm 38 normally resting under the end 21 of the corresponding coil 25, as bestshown in Fig. 2. Each support 22 is provided with a central opening 3| affording access of heat from a supported cigarette or cigar stub to the underlying thermostatic coil 25. As shown, a sharp edge 32 is provided at the inner end of each opening 3| and a protective and reinforcing lip- 33 is provided at the inner end of each support 22.

When a cigarette or cigar is laid upon one of the supports 22 and continues to burn, as soon as the heat thereof reaches the thermostatic coil 25, said coil automatically operates to cause upward and inward swinging of the end 2l thereof. Initial movement of said arm 21 will bring the same into contact with the under side of the corresponding support 22 thus tilting said support upwardly and inwardly. After such upward and inward tilting has proceeded long enough to move the center of gravity of the said cigarette or cigar stub materially inwardly, the lost motionin chain 28 will' be taken up and upward tension exerted on the outer end of the corresponding trap door I'I, thereby tilting the body of said trap doo-r downwardly to open the same. Continued burning of the supported cigarette or cigar stub will continue this motion and operation until the support 22 passes the vertical through its pivot, whereupon it will suddenly topple inwardly, thus completely and positively discharging the supported cigarette or cigar stub. As indicated in Fig. 3, the arm 3U on the support 22 striking against the outer side of the end 21 limits such inward movement. The arrangement is such that when -a cigarette stub is laid upon one of the supports 22 as indicated by the dotted lines atthe-left of Fig..2, continued burning thereof causes an ash to form which rests upon the sharp edge 32, said sharp edge 32, in effect, digging into said ash to engage it sufficiently to hold the burning cigarette from sliding during the upward tilting of the support 'so that the operation thereof will be positively `continued and the cigarette stub positively discharged at the end of the operation as explained above. Likewise, if a cigarette stub is placed further out on the support so as to bring the lighted end or ash into direct contact with the coil 25, the end of the ashcontacts directly vwith the edge 32'during the upward tilting of the support, thereby preventing sliding of the stub and compelling complete and positive discharge thereof at Vthe end of the motion, as before. Thus in any position in which a lighted stub is placed upon one ofthe supports 22, continued :burning thereof Awill automatically effect positive and complete discharge thereof into the ash receptacle. As soon as thelighted stub is thus-discharged into the receptacle, the Acoil 25 .starts to cool and, as it cools, the operating end 21 is withdrawn and returned to origin-al position, thereby returning the support -22 to its original position and releasing the corresponding trap door -l'l v-so that it may return to vits original lclosed position under the influence vof its' weight l, thus automatically restoring the parts .for reoperation.

In this way, when a lighted cigarette or cigar stub is laid upon one vof the supports22, and

forgotten by the'smoker, its continuedburning will cause its automatic,positive, an-d complete discharge into the ash tray, and Will thereby prevent its topplingfoutwardly onto the supporting surface of the ashtrayvwhen its consumption has continued long enough to cause the protruding outer endto outweigh the consumed inner end thereof. Thus the highly polished surface of table tops upon which the'ash trays may rest will Ybe automatically and perfectly protected from Vaccidental burning `and marring by cigarette or cigar stubs toppling from the supports onto Ysaid Vtable tops. The specific form and arrangement of parts disclosed is a simple and effective one for the purpose.

While l have illustrated and described the preferred form ofV construction for carrying the invention into effect, thisis capable of variation` and modification without departing from. the spirit of the invention. I therefore 'do not wish to be limited tothe precise details disclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications vas fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An ash tray comprising an ash receptacle; a support mounted thereon'and arranged to operate to dischargey thereinto; thermostatic means for operating said support; said support having means for retaining an article thereon in xed relation thereto until the same has completely operated.

2. An ash tray comprising an ash receptacle; a support mounted thereon and arranged to operate to discharge thereinto; thermostatic means for operating said support; said support having rest means located above lthe thermostatic means and spaced therefrom in a direction toward the center of the tray for retaining an article on .and in xed relation to said support until the Y .same has completely operated.

3. An ash tray comprising an ash receptacle; a support mounted thereon and arranged to operate to discharge thereinto; thermostatic means for 'operating said support; said support having a sharp edge located above the thermostatic means and spaced therefrom in a direction toward the center of the tray for retaining an article on and in fixed relation to saidsupport until the saine has Acompletely operated.

4. An ash tray kcornprisingan ash receptacle; a support pivotally mounted thereon. and arranged to tiit beyond the vertical through its pivot to discharge thereinto; thermostaticmeans for-tilting said supper to a position beyondthe vertical and then releasing it; and means on said support for retaining an article thereon until the same has completely tilted.

5. Anash .tray comprising an ash receptacle; a support pivotally mounted thereon yand arranged to tilt beyond the vertical through its pivot to discharge thereinto; thermostatic means for tilting said support to a position beyond the vertical and then releasing it; said support'having rest means located above the thermostatic means and spaced therefrom in a direction-to- Warfd the Center of the tray for retaining an article on and in xed relation to said support until the same has completely operated.

6. An ash tray comprising an ash receptacle; a support pivotaily mounted thereon and .arranged to tilt beyond the vertical Vthrough its pivot to discharge thereinto; thermostatic'means for tilting said support to a position beyond the vertical and then releasing it; said support having a sharp edge located above the thermostatic means and spaced therefrom in a direction toward the center of the tray for retaining an article on and in fixed relation to said support until the same has completely operated.

7. An ash tray comprising an ash receptacle; a support pivotally mounted thereon andarranged to tilt beyond the vertical through its lpivot to discharge thereinto; and thermostatic vlmeans for tilting said support to a position beyond the vertical and then releasing lt.

8. An ash tray comprising an ash receptacle; a support pivotally mounted thereon 'and arranged to tilt upwardly and inwardly beyond the vertical through its pivot to discharge there- 

